Wilson tied for the lead after first round of Ike; Guise three shots back

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NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. -- As the first-round scores of the Ike Championship illustrated, Wykagyl Country Club, with its tricky par 3s and undulating greens, is a stern test for any golfer.

Yet a pair of local players aced the test on Monday.

Defending Ike champion Cameron Wilson of Shorehaven Golf Club put himself in prime position to have his name etched into the winners' trophy once again, sharing the lead with two others after shooting a 3-under-par 69 in the first round of the 58th Ike MGA Stroke Play Championship. Meanwhile, Greenwich resident Danny Guise is right in the hunt, heading into Tuesday's 36-hole marathon, carding a even-par 72.

Wilson, who broke a 40-year MGA record for largest margin of victory at the Ike Championship last summer at Atlantic Golf Club in Bridgehampton, N.Y., winning by nine strokes, recorded eight birdies, five of which came on the back nine.

"I got off to a good start with birdies on two of the first four holes," Wilson said. "I don't know this course that well. I played the 2007 Met Amateur here, but I didn't have a good memory of the holes, which hurt me a couple of times. Hopefully, I'll feel more comfortable and play a little better tomorrow."

If that happens, it will certainly be tough on the competition. The 20-year-old Wilson, who became the second youngest player to win the Ike Championship a year ago, shot a 3-under on the back nine. He went into the back with momentum after holing a 25-foot putt for birdie on No. 8.

"I'm excited about tomorrow, it's going to be a long day of golf and anything can happen," Wilson said. "It's great to be in another tournament in the Met area."

Guise, who just graduated from Greenwich High School and will soon be playing at Wake Forest University, was steady throughout, parring his first three holes. After making the turn at 1-over (he teed off on No. 10), he birdied No. 1, parred four straight holes, then sank a birdie putt on the par-4, sixth hole.

"Overall, it was a solid day," Guise said. "I'm just glad that I'm in the mix going into tomorrow."

No stranger to Wykagyl, Guise enjoys playing the challenging course.

"This course is a great test," Guise said. "The rough is thick and there's some spots where you can't miss it. There are some short par 3s and some longer ones, which really presents a challenge. As for his strategy going into Tuesday: "Keep playing solid and keep making putts and good things will happen," Guise said.

The day began with 107 players, but the field was cut to 40 after 18 holes Monday, with those shooting a 77 making the cut. Miller, who teed off on No. 10, was hot his final nine holes, shooting an impressive 4-under.

"I was very up-and-down and I was getting into my own head with my putting," said Miller, the MGA 2012 Player of the Year. "Out here, the greens are in such good shape. You just have to trust it and let the putter go. There are some birdie chances on this course, but there's also some long par 3s, and you have to hit good, quality shots on those par 3s."

"I played really well on the front nine, but on the back nine I didn't make the putts I needed to make," said Loop, a recent Georgetown University graduate. "I needed to birdie that last hole to make the cut. But I still feel lucky to have had the opportunity to play in this tournament at this great course."

Wilson and Max Buckley will tee off tomorrow on the 10th hole at 9 a.m. Guise tees off on No. 1 with Matthew Lowe (Colonial Springs Golf Club) and Miller will start off on No. 10 at 8:33 a.m. with Stu Kaufman (Westchester Country Club).